Page 99 of Destiny of a King

“I can see that.”

“They should bow to their king.”

“And forcing them to their knees will earn me what?”

Seger said nothing.

Dravic continued forward.

Adira felt the difference in him. His arm remained around her, his body seemingly relaxed behind her, but she had come to know him well enough to recognize when his thoughts were busy. His gaze moved everywhere, taking in faces, cottages, the men standing protectively near their families.

She wondered what he saw that she did not. Then a sound slipped into her silence.

A voice.

She stiffened. It was gone before she could grasp the word. She searched the faces around them, desperate to know where it had come from, but too many mouths moved at once as villagers spoke among themselves.

Another sound reached her, then nothing.

Dravic’s fingers touched her chin.

She looked up.

His brow furrowed.

He had felt her tense.

Adira smiled and gave a small shake of her head, but this time his eyes remained on hers. He did not believe her.

Before he could question her further, Ernach spoke.

“That will be Merek.”

A broad-shouldered man was making his way toward them. Age had streaked his dark hair with gray, but there was nothing frail about him. He walked directly toward the king without hesitation and stopped several paces from Dravic’s horse.

He did not bow.

Dravic waited.

So did Merek.

The silence between them stretched until Seger shifted impatiently in his saddle.

Finally, Merek spoke. “King Dravic.”

Adira’s breath caught. She heard it. Not clearly enough to distinguish both words, but she heard his name again… Dravic.

Her hand closed instinctively over the king’s arm.

His attention immediately dropped to her.

Merek noticed.

So did Ernach.

Dravic looked from Adira to the man standing before him. “You know who I am. That saves introductions.”

“Aye.”